Looking ahead for 20-30 years, Princeton Future foresees more technological changes in how we live. While protecting our traditional residential neighborhoods and commercial districts, we have identified 25 sites where the Princeton Zoning Code should provide for increased density, mixed use, open space, economical construction, public transit, decreased parking requirements, public-private off-street shared parking partnering, and proportionally more variety and choice of housing, affordable to low, moderate, middle income families and individuals.
Come to the Princeton Public Library community room and take part in a discussion of Princeton’s future on Saturday, May 20 at 9 a.m.
Schedule
9 a.m. – Introduction: Balancing future change: Kevin Wilkes, President, Princeton Future
9:15 – A look at the future of personal transportation: Dr. Alain L. Kornhauser, Director, Transportation Research, Princeton University
9:55 – In what new ways should we begin to plan our redevelopment? • What if? planning: David E. Cohen, DEC Architect, Princeton Planning Board
• What is ‘fair’ housing?: Alvin McGowen Esq, Chair, Princeton Affordable Housing
• How can we do it?: Jim Constantine LP, Principal, Looney Ricks Kiss
10:20 – Please join in the conversation about Princeton’s future and the 25 sites. Break out tables (each organized by an area):
AREA ONE
1. Old Valley Road School, 8.9 acres – Auction sale and demolition of front half of former Valley Road School for conversion to residential and/or office uses. Should the Princeton Board of Education emerge as the successful bidder for buying the Westminster Choir College campus, then the entire Valley Road school site should be included in the auction for private development.
2. Municipal Building Parking Garage – Building over lot adjacent to Municipal Building to expand parking for municipality visitors and staff, fire department, Community Park School, and Community Park Pool.
3. Race Street Housing – Complete new construction of a row of low- and moderate-income housing units on the north side of Race St. and the edge of the Community Park sports fields.
4. Former Packet Offices & Parking Lots – Complete renovation of printing plant and offices on Lower Witiherspoon St. between Birch Ave. and Community Park School for retail, office, and residential uses including parking.
5. Hillier Properties = Residential and other mixed uses on Hillier-owned properties in Witherspoon-Jackson Historic District.
6. South Side Franklin Ave. – Replacement of Housing Authority’s single-story low-income residential units with three-story residential low-income apartments and townhouses. Includes expansion to include former hospital employees parking lot.
AREA TWO
7. Chambers St. Garage Replacement – Replacement of Palmer Square’s Chambers St. Garage with street-level retail, below-street-level parking, and upper-floor mix of parking, office, and residential uses.
8. Record Exchange, Princeton Printer etc. Replacement of Record Exchange and backs of other adjacent buildings on Nassau St. west of Tulane St. Includes parking garage behind back half of Nassau St. with additional retail, office, and residential uses.
9. Park Place Municipal Parking Lot – Building over existing municipal parking lot (with upper level accessed from Vandeventer and Moore Sts. and lower level accessed from Park Place) with opportunity for multi-story mix of additional retail, office, and residential uses.
10. Chestnut St. Firehouse – Public auction sale following expansion of Witherspoon St. Firehouse and relocation of existing fire apparatus to permit additional retail, office, and residential uses with additional parking based on access to lower level from Chestnut St. and upper level from Nassau St. Requires cooperation of East Nassau property owners.
11. Telephone Co. and Nearby – Plan for change that’s bound to come to bike shop and one-time phone company office with full range of retail, residential, office, and open plaza space to support added affordable housing.
12. Westminster Choir College Campus, 23 acres. It remains to be seen whether Westminster Choir students, affiliated with a different college or university, will remain at its Princeton location. Either way, the campus land may provide a redevelopment opportunity for a mix of residential and educational uses that fit the context of the area and preserves historic buildings and some open space.
AREA THREE
13. Bank of America and Parking Lot – Replacement & reduction of Bank of America & reduction of parking lot to include additional retail, office, and residential uses.
14. Harrison St. Firehouse – Public auction sale following expansion of Witherspoon St. Firehouse and relocation of existing fire apparatus to permit additional retail, office, and residential uses with additional parking.
15. North Harrison St – Following move of First Aid and Rescue Squad to Witherspoon St./Valley Rd. replace adjacent existing houses on N. Harrison St. and Clearview Ave. to provide low-income apartments.
16. Shopping Center – Allow new owners to add second and third floor mix of office and residential uses.
17. Terhune St. Senior Housing- Fulfill plans for senior housing on zoned corner site at Harrison and Terhune Sts.
18. PCH Expansion – Assisting Princeton Community Housing in constructing new rentsubsidized low and moderate income units at its village off Bunn Drive, including a second tower similar to “Holly House.”
19. Lanwin/Herrontown Development – Site of 80 acres off Herrontown Road designed around “clustered”residential units to compensate for steep slopes and bonus for affordable housing.
AREA FOUR
20. Textile Research Institute – Allow additional clustered residential housing units in exchange for dedication of open space for lakeside access and neighborhood park.
21. Butler Tract -33 acres. Encourage replacement similar to clustered sites now being completed at Merwick and Stanworth.
22. Broadmead and Grey Farms – Expand residential development along Broadmead, Valley Rd., and Harrison St. similar to earlier Grey Farms residential development of cottage and apartment housing for faculty.
23. Lower Alexander St. Corridor – Replace existing service and office uses with newer retail, office, and residential uses. Include small-scale short-term apartment rentals for visiting actors, musicians, and other performers at venues for the arts.
24. Karin Court Low-Income Family Housing – Expand low and moderate-income family housing off West Drive below Springdale Golf Course.
25. Springdale Golf Course – 125 acres. As the University ceases to lease the Springdale Golf Course land for a golf course and shifts to other educational, residential, and recreational uses, opportunities open for significant mixed-use development along the west side of the Alexander St. corridor. Or, should it become open space?
11:20 – Noon
HAVE YOUR SAY! Each Table Reports out to the plenary session.